Easy Homemade Apple Puff Pastry Danish

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These Puff Pastry Apple Danish are a delightful treat combining the buttery, flaky goodness of puff pastry with the sweet, tender embrace of maple syrup and apples. Made with only four ingredients, this recipe is your ticket to a mouthwatering, homemade indulgence in just a few simple steps.

When apple season rolls around every year, I can't wait to pick up some apples and discover new ways to use them! While vegan apple pie is always a classic, this year I wanted something a bit easier.

This apple Danish recipe with puff pastry is a real treat! The simple combination of ingredients really allows the sweet apple filling to shine through and the puff pastry bakes up into perfect flaky pastry layers.

But they're versatile too and I'm sharing a few ways you can customize the flavors. They're the perfect way to indulge your sweet tooth.

If you love apples too, you've got to try my caramelized apple toast, apple overnight oats, and apple baked oats.

What You'll Need to Make Fresh Apple Puff Pastry

These aren't an authentic danish but an easy, short-cut way to make apple danishes using puff pastry instead of danish pastry. Here's a look at the four simple ingredients you need.

• Puff pastry: The easiest way to make fresh danish with a flaky crust. Use pre-made puff pastry found in your local grocery store in the freezer section. I recommend the puff pastry sheets by Pepperidge Farm. If you use another brand be sure to check the ingredient list or markings on your package to confirm it's vegan.
• Apples: You can use any fresh apples but these are best with apples that hold their shape when cooked. A few of the best apples for baking include Granny Smith Apples, Honey Crisps, and Braeburn apples.
• Maple syrup: Adds just a bit of sweetness.
• Vegan butter: Gives these homemade apple danish some rich, salty notes.

Be sure to check the full list of ingredients in the recipe card for the quantities of each.

Variations

• Add a bit of spice. Sprinkle your apples with a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, or apple pie spice.
• Swap the apples for different fruit fillings. You can get a similar effect using peaches, nectarines, or plums.
• Add some nuts: Sprinkle your favorite chopped nuts on top of the apples before adding the puff pastry.
• Add a simple glaze. Mix together a bit of powdered sugar with non-dairy milk and a couple drops of vanilla extract. Drizzle it over your baked danish.
• Make mini-sized danish. Cut the puff pastry into smaller squares instead.

How to Make Apple Danish with Puff Pastry

These easy pastries go together in just a few steps. Here's a look at the highlights.

1. Cut the puff pastry sheet into approximately 3 by 5 inch rectangles. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to easily cut the puff pastry! Wash and thinly slice the apples.
2. Drizzle some maple syrup on the parchment paper on your sheet pan and add the apple slices on top.

3. Pour more maple syrup over the top of the apples.
4. Lay a puff pastry rectangle on top and press down on the corners to seal them.

5. Brush a bit of vegan butter on top of the puff pastry.
6. Bake the pastries in a preheated oven until the pastry puffs up and turns golden brown.

7. Sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar and enjoy!

How to Store

These apple danish are best enjoyed freshly made. If you do plan to store leftovers, I recommend reheating them when you're ready to eat them again.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in a single layer. If you stack them, use a piece of parchment paper between the layers. They will last in the fridge for up to four days or you can freeze them for up to three months.

Reheat them in the oven for 5-6 minutes at 350° or until they crisp back up.

Recipe Tips

• Be sure to bake on parchment paper. This ensures that your apple danish are easy to remove after baking.
• Enjoy your apple danish pastries warm with a whipped coffee or your favorite hot beverage.
• Use sweet apples that are good for baking!
• Thaw out your puff pastry sheets in advance!
• Serve warm danish as an impressive dessert with a scoop of your favorite vegan ice cream.

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